Codon optimized IL-15 and IL-15R-alpha genes for expression in mammalian cells

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for nucleic acids improved for the expression of interleukin-15 (IL-15) in mammalian cells. The invention further provides for methods of expressing IL-15 in mammalian cells by transfecting the cell with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an improved IL-15 sequence. 
     The present invention further provides expression vectors, and IL-15 and IL-15 receptor alpha combinations (nucleic acid and protein) that increase IL-15 stability and potency in vitro and in vivo. The present methods are useful for the increased bioavailability and biological effects of IL-15 after DNA, RNA or protein administration in a subject (e.g. a mammal, a human).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present application is the continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/160,263, filed Jul. 8, 2008, which is U.S. National Stage entry of International Application No. PCT/US07/00774, filed Jan. 12, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/812,566, filed on Jun. 9, 2006 and 60/758,819, filed on Jan. 13, 2006, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS TEXT FILE

This application includes a Sequence Listing as a text file named “77867-946361-SEQLIST.txt” created Jun. 11, 2015, and containing 80,299 bytes. The material contained in the text file is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved cytokine expression in mammalian cells by optimizing all steps of gene expression of the cytokine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine important for both the innate and adaptive immune systems (Diab, et al., Cytotherapy (2005) 7:23-35). IL-15 promotes the activation of neutrophils and macrophages, and is essential to the development and function of dendritic cells (DC), natural killer (NK) cells, NK T cells, and CD8+ T cells (Id.). IL-15 acts on cells in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid compartments (Van Belle and Grooten, Arch Immunol Ther Exp (2005) 53:115).

Based on its many functions and relative safety in animal models, administration of IL-15 finds use in treating immunodeficiency, for the in vitro expansion of T cells and NK cells, and as an adjuvant for vaccines, including anti-HIV vaccines (Diab, et al., supra; Ahmad, et al., Curr HIV Res (2005) 3:261; Alpdogan and van den Brink, Trends Immunol (2005) 26:56). For example, administration of exogenous IL-15 has been found to drastically enhance the immune cell functions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients (Ahmad, et al., supra; see also, Pett and Kelleher, Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther (2003) 1:83; and Ansari, et al., Immunol Res (2004) 29:1). Administration of IL-15 for its effects on lymphopoiesis and the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders is also being explored (Alpdogan and van den Brink, supra).

Results from several investigators have suggested that the natural soluble form of IL-15 Receptor alpha is an antagonist of IL-15 (see, Mortier, et al., (2004) J. Immunol. 173, 1681-1688; Ruchatz, et al., (1998) J. Immunol. 160, 5654-566; and Smith, et al., (2000) J. Immunol. 165, 3444-3450). In contrast, the sushi domain of IL-15 Receptor alpha when fused to IL-15 via a flexible amino acid linker has been proposed as an agonist of IL-15 function in vitro (J Biol Chem. 2006 Jan. 20; 281(3):1612-9). Soluble interleukin-15 receptor alpha (IL-15R alpha)-sushi is a selective and potent agonist of IL-15 action through IL-15R beta/gamma (see, Mortier E, et al., J Biol Chem. 2006 281:1612).

To provide therapeutic IL-15, alone or in combination with a whole IL-15 receptor alpha or a soluble IL-15 receptor alpha, either for administration as a coding nucleic acid or as a protein, it is important to develop efficient expression vectors and efficiently expression coding nucleic acid sequences for this cytokine. The present invention addresses this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors and mammalian cells for the high-level expression of interleukin-15 (IL-15), alone and combined with whole IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa). The invention further provides methods for the high-level expression of interleukin-15 in mammalian cells, alone and combined with whole IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa).

In a related aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors and mammalian cells for the high-level expression of whole IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa). The invention further provides methods for the high-level expression whole IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa).

In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding an interleukin-15 (IL-15) protein having at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% sequence identity to a native mammalian IL-15 protein, wherein the nucleic acid sequence differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native mammalian IL-15 by at least 50% of the changed nucleotide positions identified in FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native mammalian IL-15 by at least 50% of the changed codon positions identified in FIG. 4 and/or in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the changed nucleotides and codons are in the mature IL-15 sequence. The native mammalian IL-15 can be any mammalian IL-15, including human IL-15, a primate IL-15, a porcine IL-15, a murine IL-15, and the like.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the IL-15 differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native IL-15 by at least about 55% (e.g., 59 nucleotides), 60% (e.g., 64 nucleotides), 65% (e.g., 70 nucleotides), 70% e.g., (75 nucleotides), 75% (e.g., 81 nucleotides), 80% (e.g., 86 nucleotides), 85% (e.g., 91 nucleotides), 90% (e.g., 97 nucleotides), 95% (e.g., 109 nucleotides) of the 115 changed nucleotide positions identified in FIG. 8 (shaded). In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the IL-15 differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native IL-15 by at least about 55% (e.g., 66 codons), 60% (e.g., 73 codons), 65% (e.g., 78 codons), 70% e.g., (85 codons), 75% (e.g., 91 codons), 80% (e.g., 97 codons), 85% (e.g., 103 codons), 90% (e.g., 109 codons), 95% (e.g., 115 codons) of the 121 changed codon positions identified in FIG. 4 (shaded, boxed or underlined).

In some embodiments, the changed nucleotides and codons are in the mature IL-15 sequence. For example, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the improved IL-15 can differ from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native IL-15 by at least about 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% of the 78 changed nucleotide positions in the mature IL-15 identified in FIG. 8 (shaded). In another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the improved IL-15 can differ from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native IL-15 by at least about 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% of the 84 changed codon positions in the mature IL-15 identified in FIG. 4 (shaded, boxed or underlined).

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native IL-15 at nucleotide positions 6, 9, 15, 18, 21, 22, 27, 30, 33, 49, 54, 55, 57, 60, 63, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 96, 105, 106, 114, 120, 123, 129, 132, 135, 138, 141, 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 and 486, wherein the nucleotide positions are as identified in FIG. 8.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence comprises a guanine (g) or a cytosine (c) nucleotide at nucleotide positions 6, 9, 15, 18, 21, 22, 27, 30, 33, 49, 54, 55, 57, 60, 63, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 96, 105, 106, 114, 120, 123, 129, 132, 135, 138, 141, 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 and 486, wherein the nucleotide positions are as identified in FIG. 8.

The codons can differ in any way such that an identical or similar (i.e., conservatively substituted) amino acid is encoded. In some embodiments, the codons are changed to increase GC content. In some embodiments, the improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequences each comprise at least about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75% or more GC content (e.g., deoxyguanosine and deoxycytidine deoxyribonucleoside residues or guanosine and cytidine ribonucleoside residues) over the length of the sequence.

The nucleic acid encoding the IL-15 can share at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% sequence identity with a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, and/or SEQ ID NO:16. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the IL-15 differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native IL-15 as identified in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16).

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-15 signal peptide-propeptide (SIG-PRO) is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a signal peptide (SIG) or a signal peptide-propeptide (SIG-PRO) from a heterologous protein. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-15 signal peptide is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a signal peptide from a heterologous protein. The heterologous protein can be, for example, from tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), growth hormone, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or an immunoglobulin (e.g., IgE). In one embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-15 signal peptide-propeptide (SIG-PRO) is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a tPA SIG-PRO having 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:25 or SEQ ID NO:27. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the IL-15 is operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA export element, for example a CTE or RTEm26CTE.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL15Ra signal peptide is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a signal peptide (SIG) or a signal peptide-propeptide (SIG-PRO) from a heterologous protein. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL15Ra signal peptide is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a signal peptide from a heterologous protein. The heterologous protein can be, for example, from tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), growth hormone, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or an immunoglobulin (e.g., IgE). In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the IL15Ra is operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA export element, for example a CTE or RTEm26CTE.

In another aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a signal peptide-propeptide (SIG-PRO) sequence from a protein other than IL-15, for example a tPA SIG-PRO sequence, a growth hormone signal sequence (SIG), an immunoglobulin signal sequence (SIG), operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding an IL-15 protein having at least 90% sequence identity to the native mammalian IL-15 protein, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding IL-15 comprises at least 50% GC content. In one embodiment, the SIG-PRO sequence is from a protein selected from the group consisting of tPA, GM-CSF, growth hormone and an immunoglobulin family protein. In one embodiment, the SIG-PRO sequence encodes a tPA SIG-PRO having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:8. In another embodiment, the SIG-PRO sequence is a tPA SIG-PRO having at least 95% nucleic acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:7. Further embodiments are as described above.

In a further aspect, the invention includes expression vectors and mammalian cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences of the invention, including the embodiments described above.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the IL-15 and/or IL15Ra further include pharmaceutical excipients for use as a vaccine adjuvant. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the IL-15 and/or IL15Ra further include pharmaceutical excipients for use as an immunotherapy factor, for example, in the expansion of the numbers of lymphocytes, including B-cells, T cells, NK cells, and NK T cells, in vitro or in vivo. In some embodiments, the IL-15and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are used to expand lymphocyte populations that express the IL-2/IL-15 beta gamma receptors. In some embodiments, the IL-15and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are used to expand CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells. In some embodiments, the IL-15and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are used to expand the numbers of dual secreting IL-2 and IFN-gamma multifunctional cells (e.g., multifunctional T cells) after antigenic stimulation.

In a another aspect, the invention provides methods of expressing IL-15 in a mammalian cell, the method comprising recombinantly modifying a mammalian cell to express a nucleic acid encoding an IL-15 protein having at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% sequence identity to a native mammalian IL-15 protein, wherein the nucleic acid sequence differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native mammalian IL 15 by at least 50% of the nucleotide positions identified in FIG. 8. The embodiments for the methods are as described above for the nucleic acid sequences.

In a related aspect, the present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that the whole IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa) comprising the entire extracellular domain of the receptor is a potent stabilizer of IL-15 in vitro and in vivo. The complex of IL-15 and IL15sRa has increased stability in circulation and also has increased IL-15 potency as determined by the expansion of multiple lymphocyte subsets including natural killer (NK) cells and T cells. The present invention provides methods, expression vectors and protein combinations that increase IL-15 potency in vitro and in vivo. These methods are useful for the increased bioavailability, stability, and potency of IL-15, and for increasing the biological effects of IL-15 upon administration to an individual (e.g., a mammal, a human).

Provided are expression vectors for the co-ordinate expression of IL-15 with its receptor IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra). The vectors generally contain one copy of an IL-15 coding sequence or/and one copy of an IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) (whole or soluble). The expression ratios of the two proteins can be adjusted to 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3, for example, by using different plasmid DNA ratios (w/w) or by selecting promoters of different expression strengths. In some embodiments, the IL-15 cytokine and IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) are expressed in a molar ratio of 1:3.

In one embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences for at least one of the IL-15 cytokine and IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) are improved in accordance with the present methods described herein. Co-expression of the IL-15 cytokine and IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra), whole or soluble, increases the amount of IL-15 cytokine and IL15Ra that is expressed and secreted from a cell, by more than 10-fold, 100-fold, 10,000-fold, 100,000-fold, 1,000,000-fold or more, in comparison to expression of IL-15 alone, particularly in comparison to wt IL-15 sequences. Using such vectors increases the stability of IL-15 and IL15Ra by more than 10-fold, 20-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 1000-fold or more, in comparison to IL-15 alone, and increases the steady-state levels of IL-15 protein in vivo. The biological function (e.g., the activation and induction of the expansion of lymphocytes, including B cells, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and NK T cells) of IL-15 co-expressed with IL15Ra is also dramatically increased in vivo, by more than 10-fold, 15-fold, 20-fold, or more, in comparison to IL-15 alone. These vectors are useful for the increased delivery of biologically active cytokines in specific tissues. The IL-15 and IL15Ra vectors and proteins find use in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccinations, cancer immunotherapy, or for any indication for enhanced lymphocyte numbers and function and any immune deficiency conditions.

In one aspect, the present invention provides expression vectors for the coordinate expression of IL-15 with whole IL15Ra or soluble IL15Ra. The IL-15 and whole IL15Ra or soluble IL15Ra can be contained in the same expression vector or in multiple expression vectors. In some embodiments, the coding nucleic acid sequence of at least one of the IL-15 and whole IL15Ra or soluble IL15Ra is improved according to the present methods for high efficiency expression.

One aspect of the invention is that the provided vectors expressing IL-15 and full length IL15Ra upon delivery to a mammalian cell or a mammal can rapidly generate the native form of soluble extracellular IL15sRa. Therefore, co-delivery and expression of IL-15 and IL15Ra generates IL-15/IL-15R complexes on the surface of the cell as well as IL-15/IL15sRa complexes that are released into circulation and can act at distant tissues.

In a further aspect, the invention provides improved nucleic acid sequences encoding a whole IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa) having at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% sequence identity to a native mammalian IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) or the soluble form of IL15Ra (IL15sRa) protein (see, e.g., NM_002189), wherein the nucleic acid sequence differs from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the native mammalian IL-15 by at least 50% of the changed nucleotide positions identified in FIGS. 35-38.

In some embodiments, the coding sequence for the IL15Ra (whole or soluble form) shares at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence depicted in any one of FIGS. 35-38. In one embodiment, the IL15Ra is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence depicted in any one of FIGS. 35-38. In one embodiment, the improved IL15Ra (whole or soluble) coding nucleic acid sequence has at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or 85% GC content.

The invention further provides methods of increasing IL-15 quantity, stability and bioactivity. The methods can be carried out in vitro by co-expressing IL-15 and IL15Ra or IL15sRa in mammalian host cells. The methods can be carried out in vivo by administering to an individual a combination of IL-15 with an IL-15 receptor alpha (whole or soluble), as proteins for injection or as DNA constructs (native or improved) that are produced in vivo. One or both of the IL-15 and IL15Ra coding sequences can be improved according to the methods described herein.

The invention further provides host cells and cell lines that coordinately produce IL-15 and IL-15 soluble Receptor alpha (IL15sRa) or cell lines coordinately producing IL-15 and a mixture of soluble and full length IL15Ra.

In a further aspect, the invention provides methods of enhancing the immune response of an individual against one or more antigens by administering an improved IL-15 nucleic acid of the invention, alone or in combination with an IL15Ra. The IL15Ra can be in protein or nucleic acid form, wild-type or improved.

In a further aspect, the invention provides methods of expanding the numbers of lymphocytes, for example, for decreasing immunodeficiency conditions, in vivo or in vitro, by administering an improved IL-15 nucleic acid of the invention, alone or in combination with an IL15Ra. The IL15Ra can be in protein or nucleic acid form, wild-type or improved. In some embodiments, the lymphocytes are selected from the group consisting of B-cells, T cells, NK cells, and NK T cells. In some embodiments, the IL-15and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences promote the expansion of lymphocyte populations that express the IL-2/IL-15 beta gamma receptors. In some embodiments, the IL-15and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences stimulate the expansion of CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells. In some embodiments, the IL-15and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences induce the expansion of the numbers of dual secreting IL-2 and IFN-gamma multifunctional cells (e.g., multifunctional T cells) upon antigen stimulation.

In some embodiments, one or both of the DNA constructs are administered by injection and/or electroporation. Administration by dual routes of injection and electroporation can be done concurrently or sequentially, at the same or different sites.

DEFINITIONS

The term “native mammalian interleukin-15 (IL-15)” refers to any naturally occurring interleukin-15 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the IL-15 from a mammalian species. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that interleukin-15 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are publicly available in gene databases, for example, GenBank through the National Center for Biotechnological Information on the worldwideweb at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Exemplified native mammalian IL-15 nucleic acid or amino acid sequences can be from, for example, human, primate, canine, feline, porcine, equine, bovine, ovine, rodentia, murine, rat, hamster, guinea pig, etc. Accession numbers for exemplified native mammalian IL-15 nucleic acid sequences include NM_172174 (human; SEQ ID NO:1); NM_172175 (human); NM_000585 (human); U19843 (macaque; SEQ ID NO:14); DQ021912 (macaque); AB000555 (macaque); NM_214390 (porcine); DQ152967 (ovine); NM_174090 (bovine); NM_008357 (murine); NM_013129 (rattus); DQ083522 (water buffalo); XM_844053 (canine); DQ157452 (lagomorpha); and NM_001009207 (feline). Accession numbers for exemplified native mammalian IL-15 amino acid sequences include NP_751914 (human; SEQ ID NO:2); CAG46804 (human); CAG46777 (human); AAB60398 (macaque; SEQ ID NO:15); AAY45895 (macaque); NP_999555 (porcine); NP_776515 (bovine); AAY83832 (water buffalo); ABB02300 (ovine); XP_849146 (canine); NP_001009207 (feline); NP_037261 (rattus); and NP_032383 (murine).

The term “interleukin-15” or “IL-15” refers to a polypeptide that has at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity to a native mammalian IL-15 amino acid sequence, or a nucleotide encoding such a polypeptide, is biologically active, meaning the mutated protein (“mutein”) has functionality similar (75% or greater) to that of a native IL-15 protein in at least one functional assay. Exemplified functional assays of an IL-15 polypeptide include proliferation of T-cells (see, for example, Montes, et al., Clin Exp Immunol (2005) 142:292), and activation of NK cells, macrophages and neutrophils. Methods for isolation of particular immune cell subpopulations and detection of proliferation (i.e., ³H-thymidine incorporation) are well known in the art. Cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity assays can be used to measure NK cell, macrophage and neutrophil activation. Cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity assays, including release of isotopes (⁵¹Cr), dyes (e.g., tetrazolium, neutral red) or enzymes, are also well known in the art, with commercially available kits (Oxford Biomedical Research, Oxford, M; Cambrex, Walkersville, Md.; Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). IL-15 has also been shown to inhibit Fas mediated apoptosis (see, Demirci and Li, Cell Mol Immunol (2004) 1:123). Apoptosis assays, including for example, TUNEL assays and annexin V assays, are well known in the art with commercially available kits (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). See also, Coligan, et al., Current Methods in Immunology, 1991-2006, John Wiley & Sons.

The term “native mammalian interleukin-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra)” refers to any naturally occurring interleukin-15 receptor alpha nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the IL-15 receptor alpha from a mammalian species. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that interleukin-15 receptor alpha nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are publicly available in gene databases, for example, GenBank through the National Center for Biotechnological Information on the worldwideweb at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Exemplified native mammalian IL-15 receptor alpha nucleic acid or amino acid sequences can be from, for example, human, primate, canine, feline, porcine, equine, bovine, ovine, rodentia, murine, rat, hamster, guinea pig, etc. Accession numbers for exemplified native mammalian IL-15 nucleic acid sequences include NM_002189 (Homo sapiens interleukin 15 receptor, alpha (IL15RA), transcript variant 1, mRNA).

The term “interleukin-15 receptor alpha” or “IL15Ra” refers to a polypeptide that has at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity to a native mammalian IL15Ra amino acid sequence, or a nucleotide encoding such a polypeptide, is biologically active, meaning the mutated protein (“mutein”) has functionality similar (75% or greater) to that of a native IL15Ra protein in at least one functional assay. One functional assay is specific binding to a native IL-15 protein.

The term “nucleic acid” refers to deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides and polymers thereof in either single- or double-stranded form. The term encompasses nucleic acids containing known nucleotide analogs or modified backbone residues or linkages, which are synthetic, naturally occurring, and non-naturally occurring, which have similar binding properties as the reference nucleic acid, and which are metabolized in a manner similar to the reference nucleotides. Examples of such analogs include, without limitation, phosphorothioates, phosphoramidates, methyl phosphonates, chiral-methyl phosphonates, 2-O-methyl ribonucleotides, peptide-nucleic acids (PNAs).

Unless otherwise indicated, a particular nucleic acid sequence also implicitly encompasses conservatively modified variants thereof (e.g., degenerate codon substitutions) and complementary sequences, as well as the sequence explicitly indicated. Degenerate codon substitutions can be achieved by generating sequences in which the third position of one or more selected (or all) codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues (Batzer et al., Nucleic Acid Res. 19:5081 (1991); Ohtsuka et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260:2605-2608 (1985); Rossolini et al., Mol. Cell. Probes 8:91-98 (1994)). The term nucleic acid is used interchangeably with gene, cDNA, mRNA, oligonucleotide, and polynucleotide.

Degenerate codon substitutions for naturally occurring amino acids are in Table 1.

TABLE 1 1^(st) position 2^(nd) position 3^(rd) position (5′ end) U(T) C A G (3′ end) U(T) Phe Ser Tyr Cys U(T) Phe Ser Tyr Cys C Leu Ser STOP STOP A Leu Ser STOP Trp G C Leu Pro His Arg U(T) Leu Pro His Arg C Leu Pro Gln Arg A Leu Pro Gln Arg G A Ile Thr Asn Ser U(T) Ile Thr Asn Ser C Ile Thr Lys Arg A Met Thr Lys Arg G G Val Ala Asp Gly U(T) Val Ala Asp Gly C Val Ala Glu Gly A Val Ala Glu Gly G

The terms “identical” or percent “identity,” in the context of two or more nucleic acids or polypeptide sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same (i.e., about 70% identity, preferably 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or higher identity over a specified region (e.g., any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-23), when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over a comparison window or designated region) as measured using a BLAST or BLAST 2.0 sequence comparison algorithms with default parameters described below, or by manual alignment and visual inspection (see, e.g., NCBI web site or the like). Such sequences are then said to be “substantially identical.” This definition also refers to, or can be applied to, the compliment of a test sequence. The definition also includes sequences that have deletions and/or additions, as well as those that have substitutions. As described below, the preferred algorithms can account for gaps and the like. Preferably, identity exists over a region that is at least about 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 amino acids or nucleotides in length, and oftentimes over a region that is 225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 amino acids or nucleotides in length or over the full-length of am amino acid or nucleic acid sequences.

For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences are compared (here, an entire “native mammalian” IL-15 amino acid or nucleic acid sequence). When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Preferably, default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identities for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters.

A preferred example of algorithm that is suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity are the BLAST algorithms, which are described in Altschul et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1977) and Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990), respectively. BLAST software is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information on the worldwide web at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. Both default parameters or other non-default parameters can be used. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4 and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength of 3, and expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1989)) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4, and a comparison of both strands.

Amino acids can be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, can be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes.

“Conservatively modified variants” as used herein applies to amino acid sequences. One of skill will recognize that individual substitutions, deletions or additions to a nucleic acid, peptide, polypeptide, or protein sequence which alters, adds or deletes a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids in the encoded sequence is a “conservatively modified variant” where the alteration results in the substitution of an amino acid with a chemically similar amino acid. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art. Such conservatively modified variants are in addition to and do not exclude polymorphic variants, interspecies homologs, and alleles of the invention.

The following eight groups each contain amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one another:

-   -   1) Alanine (A), Glycine (G);     -   2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E);     -   3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q);     -   4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K);     -   5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V);     -   6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W);     -   7) Serine (S), Threonine (T); and     -   8) Cysteine (C), Methionine (M) (see, e.g., Creighton, Proteins         (1984)).

The term “GC content” refers to the percentage of a nucleic acid sequence comprised of deoxyguanosine (G) and/or deoxycytidine (C) deoxyribonucleosides, or guanosine (G) and/or cytidine (C) ribonucleoside residues.

The terms “mammal” or “mammalian” refer to any animal within the taxonomic classification mammalia. A mammal can refer to a human or a non-human primate. A mammal can refer to a domestic animal, including for example, canine, feline, rodentia, including lagomorpha, murine, rattus, Cricetinae (hamsters), etc. A mammal can refer to an agricultural animal, including for example, bovine, ovine, porcine, equine, etc.

The term “operably linked” refers to a functional linkage between a first nucleic acid sequence and a second nucleic acid sequence, such that the first and second nucleic acid sequences are transcribed into a single nucleic acid sequence. Operably linked nucleic acid sequences need not be physically adjacent to each other. The term “operably linked” also refers to a functional linkage between a nucleic acid expression control sequence (such as a promoter, or array of transcription factor binding sites) and a transcribable nucleic acid sequence, wherein the expression control sequence directs transcription of the nucleic acid corresponding to the transcribable sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates strategies of improving the coding sequences of human interleukin-15 (IL-15). Section 1 of the IL-15 polypeptide refers to the signal peptide (amino acids 1-29); section 2 refers to the propeptide (amino acids 30-47); section 3 refers to mature IL-15 (amino acids 47-115). In IL-15opt1, the coding sequence for IL-15 has higher GC content, and potential splice sites are altered. The changes generally do not affect coding potential. In IL-15opt2, the coding sequence improvements are similar to IL-15opt1, but include usage of more “preferred” codons, as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,464.

FIG. 2 illustrates a comparison of the AU-GC content profiles of wild-type IL-15 (wt), IL-15opt1 (opt1), and IL-15opt2 (opt2). Both IL-15opt1 and IL-15opt2 have a significant increase in GC content compared to wild-type IL-15 cDNA.

FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison of human wild-type IL-15 (SEQ ID NO:1) and improved IL-15opt1 (opt) (SEQ ID NO:3) nucleotide sequences. The sequences share 70.7% sequence identity.

FIG. 4 illustrates a comparison of the nucleotide changes between wild-type human IL-15 (top; SEQ ID NO:1) and improved human IL-15opt1 (bottom; SEQ ID NO:3) nucleotide sequences. The improved human IL-15 sequence was changed at 121 of 162 total codons (75%). Forty-one (41) codons were left unchanged in comparison to the wild-type human IL-15 nucleotide sequence. The boxed codons indicate changes to “more preferred” codons according to the classification of Seed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,464) (62 codons). The underlined codons indicate codons changed to “less preferred” codons according to the classification of Seed (10 codons), in contradiction to the method of Seed. The grey highlighted codons indicate changes to “not preferred” codons (49 codons), also in contradiction to the method of Seed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sequence alignment of the nucleic acid sequences of wild-type IL-15 (wt) (SEQ ID NO:1), IL-15opt1 (opt) (SEQ ID NO:3), and IL-15opt2 (opt-2) (SEQ ID NO:4). Wild-type IL-15 has 162 total codons. In IL-15opt1, 121 of 162 codons are changed. In IL-15opt2, 122 of 162 codons are changed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence alignment of the nucleic acid sequences of wild-type IL-15 (wt; SEQ ID NO:1), IL-15opt1 (opt; SEQ ID NO:3), and IL-15opt2 (opt-2; SEQ ID NO:4). Improvement of the coding sequences includes nucleotide changes that use “preferred” codons or “less preferred” codons, as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,464. IL-15opt1 has 72 preferred/less preferred codons, and IL-15opt2 has 103 preferred/less preferred codons. In addition, improvements of the IL-15 coding sequences include nucleotide changes that are in contradiction to the method defined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,464.

FIG. 7 illustrates that plasmids having improved human IL-15 coding sequences express increased level of human IL-15 protein in transfected mammalian cells. Depicted is a typical experiment showing a 5-fold increase using either the IL-15opt1 or IL-15opt2 nucleic acid sequences. Over an average of 7 experiments, a mean increase of 8-fold in human IL-15 protein production was achieved in comparison to expression from the wild-type human IL-15 sequence. There is no difference in IL-15 protein production between IL-15opt1 and IL-15opt2. This underscores our conclusions that it is not codon usage but rather changes of the RNA sequence that lead to improved gene expression.

FIG. 8 illustrates the common positions of nucleotide changes (highlighted) in IL-15opt1 (SEQ ID NO:3) and IL-15opt2 (SEQ ID NO:4) sequences compared to wild type human IL-15 (SEQ ID NO:1). Changes at the positions of the indicated 115 nucleotides (highlighted) are sufficient for improved mRNA and protein expression of human IL-15 (an approximately 8-fold increase in comparison to wild-type human IL-15).

FIG. 9 illustrates that modification of signal and/or propeptide of human IL-15 leads to an increased extracellular accumulation of IL-15.

FIG. 10 illustrates that improved IL-15 coding sequences fused to the signal peptide and propeptide of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) greatly improves IL-15 protein production in mammalian cells. Expressing IL-15 from IL-15opt-tPA2, which contains tissue plasminogen activator signal peptide and propeptide sequences, resulted in an additional 2.5 average fold increase of IL-15 protein production in mammalian cells (mean of 4 experiments using 1-3 independent clones) in comparison to improved IL-15 (opt). Other variants with differentially swapped domains, which either had the tPA signal peptide only (IL-15opt-tPA1) or a combination of the tPA signal peptide with the IL-15 propeptide (IL-15opt-tPA3) resulted in decreased IL-15 protein production or no improvement.

FIG. 11 illustrates the improved expression of human IL-15-tPA2, in comparison to wild-type human IL-15 (IL-15 wt) and improved IL-15 (IL-15opt), from transfected human 293 and RD4 cells.

FIG. 12 illustrates alteration of the tPA signal peptide-IL-15 junction to produce the proper N-terminus for IL-15. IL-15opt-tPA2 sequence (SEQ ID NO:37) has a furin cleavage site and 4 extra amino acids (GARA; SEQ ID NO:41) at the N-terminus (SEQ ID NO:38) in comparison to wild-type human IL-15 (SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6). IL-15opt-tPA5 sequence (SEQ ID NO:39)has a furin cleavage site sequence (R-X-(K/R)-R) and 2 additional amino acids (GA) immediately adjacent to the N terminus (SEQ ID NO:40) of the mature IL-15 (SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8). IL15opt=SEQ ID NO:36. The resulting IL-15 proteins were sequenced from the supernatant of transfected 293 cells and were shown to have the indicated extra amino acids immediately adjacent to the N terminus of mature IL-15.

FIG. 13 illustrates similar production of IL-15 protein from modified tPA fusion proteins, IL-15opt-tPA2 (opt-tPA2) and IL-15opt-tPA5 (opt-tPAS).

FIG. 14 illustrates that human IL-15 (h-IL15) (SEQ ID NO:2) and Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) IL-15 (rh-IL15) (SEQ ID NO:15) proteins share 96% identity, differing by 6 amino acids. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce the indicated 11 nucleotide changes into the human IL-15opt1 coding nucleotide sequence, generating the Rhesus IL-15opt coding nucleotide sequence.

FIG. 15 illustrates a comparison of the nucleotide sequences of human IL-15opt1 (huIL-15opt) (SEQ ID NO:3) and Rhesus IL-15opt (rhIL-15opt) (SEQ ID NO:16). Eleven (11) nucleotide changes were introduced into the 489 nucleotide coding region of human IL-15opt1.

FIG. 16 illustrates a comparison of Rhesus wild-type IL-15 (wt) (SEQ ID NO:14) and Rhesus improved IL-15 (opt) (SEQ ID NO:16) nucleotide sequences. The nucleotide sequences share 71.3% identity.

FIG. 17 illustrates that improvement of the Rhesus IL-15 coding sequence resulted in an approximately 30-fold increase in Rhesus IL-15 protein production in mammalian cells. Substitution of the IL-15 signal peptide and propeptide sequences with tPA signal peptide and propeptide sequences resulted in a further 3-fold improvement, indicating synergistic effects of the two approaches.

FIG. 18 illustrates that improving IL-15 coding sequences led to great increases of both human and Rhesus IL-15 protein production. The final increase in expression was approximately 20-fold for human and a 90-100 fold increase for Rhesus IL-15. In both human and Rhesus IL-15 vectors, the substitution of the IL-15 signal peptide and propeptide with tPA signal peptide and propeptide sequences led to an additional approximately 3-fold increase in IL-15 protein production from mammalian cells.

FIG. 19 illustrates a schematic representation of an expression vector for expressing optimized human IL-15 from a cytomegalovirus promoter (CMVhuIL-15opt).

FIG. 20 illustrates a sequence map of expression vector CMVhuIL-15(opt1) (SEQ ID NO:13). See, SEQ ID NO:21 for the corresponding expression vector for expressing optimized Rhesus IL-15 from a cytomegalovirus promoter (CMVrhIL-15opt). Human IL-15=SEQ ID NO:2; kanamycin marker=SEQ ID NO:42.

FIG. 21 illustrates a schematic representation of human optimized IL-15 with the signal peptide and propeptide sequences from tissue plasminogen activator protein (huIL-15opt-tPA2).

FIG. 22 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:9) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) of huIL-15opt1-tPA2. See, SEQ ID NO:17 and SEQ ID NO:18 for the corresponding nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of Rhesus optimized IL-15 with the signal peptide and propeptide sequences from tissue plasminogen activator protein (rhIL-15opt-tPA2).

FIG. 23 illustrates a schematic representation of human optimized IL-15 with modified signal peptide and propeptide sequences from tissue plasminogen activator protein (huIL-15opt-tPA5).

FIG. 24 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:11) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12) of huIL-15opt1-tPA5. See, SEQ ID NO:19 and SEQ ID NO:20 for the corresponding nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of Rhesus optimized IL-15 with the signal peptide and propeptide sequences from tissue plasminogen activator protein (rhIL-15opt-tPA2).

FIG. 25 illustrates that fusion of a wild-type IL-15 sequence to an RNA export element, including CTE or RTEm26CTE resulted in an approximately 2-fold increase in IL-15 protein production from mammalian cells.

FIG. 26 illustrates that improving the human IL-15 coding sequence further increases IL-15 protein production from human 293 cells 5-fold as compared to wild-type human IL-15 operably linked to RNA export elements CTE or RTEm26CTE and 10-fold as compared to wild-type human IL-15.

FIG. 27 illustrates that improving the human IL-15 coding sequence further increases IL-15 protein production from 293 cells at least 2-fold in comparison to wild-type human IL-15 produced from RNA export elements CTE or RTEm26CTE.

FIG. 28 illustrates changes in the tPA-IL-15 fusion as exemplified in IL-15opt-tPA6 and IL-15opt-tPA7. IL-15opt-tPA6 contains a furin cleavage site sequence (R-X-(K/R)-R) and the 3 additional amino acids (GAR) immediately adjacent to the N terminus of the mature IL-15 (see, SEQ ID NOs:24 and 25). IL-15opt-tPA7 contains a furin cleavage site sequence (R-X-(K/R)-R) and one additional amino acid (G) immediately adjacent to the N terminus of the mature IL-15 (see, SEQ ID NOs:26 and 27). The resulting IL-15 proteins were sequenced from the supernatant of transfected 293 cells and were shown to have the indicated additional amino acids immediately adjacent to the N terminus of mature IL-15. Peptides=SEQ ID NOS:43-46.

FIG. 29 illustrates that improved human IL-15 sequences human IL-15opt-tPA6 and human IL-15opt-tPA7 show similar increased levels of IL-15 production in comparison to human IL-15opt-tPA2 and human IL-15opt-tPA5. Protein levels produced from the different improved sequences were measured from transfected human 293 cells. The produced IL-15 proteins differ at the N terminus by either having GARA, GAR, GA or G immediately adjacent to the N terminus. Different plasmids expressing the tPA signal fused to N terminus of the mature IL-15 show similar levels of improved IL-15 production.

FIG. 30 illustrates that improved rhesus IL-15 sequences rhesus IL-15opt-tPA6 and rhesus IL-15opt-tPA7 show similar increased levels of IL-15 production in comparison to rhesus IL-15opt-tPA2 and rhesus IL-15opt-tPA5. Protein levels produced from the different improved sequences were measured from transfected human 293 cells. The data are analogous to those using improved human IL-15 sequences, supra.

FIG. 31 illustrates a schematic of human IL-15opt-tPA6.

FIG. 32 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:28) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:29) of human IL-15opt1-tPA6. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for Rhesus IL-15opt-tPA6 are shown as SEQ ID NOs:32 and 33, respectively.

FIG. 33 illustrates a schematic of human IL-15opt-tPA7.

FIG. 34 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:30) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:31) of human IL-15opt1-tPA7. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for Rhesus IL-15opt-tPA7 are shown as SEQ ID NOs:34 and 35, respectively.

FIG. 35 illustrates the nucleic acid of an improved human IL-15 receptor alpha (IL15Ra) nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:47) and the encoded amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:48).

FIG. 36 illustrates the nucleic acid of an improved human IL15Ra nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:47) and the encoded amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:48).

FIG. 37 illustrates the nucleic acid of an improved human soluble IL15Ra nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:49) and the encoded amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:50).

FIG. 38 illustrates the nucleic acid of an improved human soluble IL15Ra nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:49) and the encoded amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:50).

FIG. 39 illustrates that co-expression of IL-15 with IL-15 Receptor alpha improved sequences in human 293 cells in vitro using standard transfection methods led to a dramatic increase of total IL-15 levels measured. 100 ng of hIL-15 (native (plasmid AG32) or using the tPA leader (plasmid AG59)), alone or in combination with hIL15Ra (plasmid AG79) were transfected in 293 cells together 100 ng of GFP and 100 ng SEAP by the Ca—PO₄ co-precipitation method. After 48 hours cells were harvested and Elisa was performed using Quantikine Human IL-15, RD systems to quantify IL-15 in media (extra) and cells. Total IL-15 (extracellular and intracellular) is also indicated. Fold indicates the fold increase in IL-15.

FIG. 40 illustrates that co-expression of IL-15 with IL-15 Receptor alpha improved sequences in human 293 cells in vitro using standard transfection methods led to a dramatic increase of total IL-15 levels measured. Human 293 cells were transfected with 100 ng of plasmid hIL15-tPA6 alone or in combination with either hIL15Receptor alpha (plasmid AG79) or hIL15 soluble Receptor alpha (plasmid AG98) together with 100 ng of GFP and 100 ng SEAP plasmids as transfection controls using Superfect. Medium was sampled after 24 and 48 hours. After 48 hours cells were harvested and ELISA was performed using Quantikine Human IL-15 (R&D systems) to measure IL-15 levels.

FIG. 41 illustrates the great increase in the levels of lung NK cells and also increases of lung CD3+CD49+ cells when IL-15 and IL-15 receptor DNA were delivered and expressed in mice tissues after tail vein injection. Number of cells are given per 10⁵ cells in the analysis file. Tissues were analyzed 3 days after tail vein injection. The different groups of mice were injected in the tail vein hydrodynamically with the following DNAs:

-   -   GFP, 1 μg of plasmid expressing Green Fluorescent Protein         (control);     -   IL15, 1 μg of plasmid expressing the human IL-15 using the         plasmid hIL15tPA6 described in our provisional application     -   Ra, 1 μg of plasmid expressing human IL-15 Receptor alpha     -   15+Ra 2, 2 μg of plasmid expressing IL-15tPA6 and 2 μg of         plasmid expressing human IL-15 Receptor alpha     -   15+Ra 1, 1 μg of plasmid expressing IL-15tPA6 and 1 μg of         plasmid expressing human IL-15 Receptor alpha.

FIG. 42 illustrates the increase of NK cells and T cells in the liver of mice after DNA injection of IL-15 alone, IL-15+IL-15 Receptor alpha, or IL-15+IL-15 soluble Receptor alpha. Number of cells are given per 10⁶ cells in the analysis file. Organs from mice injected with IL-15tPA6 and IL-15 Receptor alpha plasmid DNAs as indicated were digested with collagenase to obtain single cell suspensions. The cells were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD49b, CD44 and CD62L and analyzed by flow cytometry. Murine NK cells are phenotypically identified as CD3-CD49b+. IL-15, injection with plasmid IL-15tPA6. IL-15+IL-15R, the plasmid expressing the full IL15Ra was co-transfected. IL-15+IL-15sR, the plasmid expressing the soluble IL-15 Receptor alpha was cotransfected with IL-15tPA6.

FIG. 43 illustrates the increase in the effector cells in the spleen (total effectors and CD8 effectors, left and right panels, respectively). The lack of CD62L defines a population of murine memory T cells with effector phenotype. Spleens from mice injected with IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor alpha plasmid DNAs as indicated were processed and cells were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD49b, CD44 and CD62L and analyzed by flow cytometry.

FIG. 44 illustrates that the increased IL-15 levels obtained by stabilization of IL-15 by the IL15Ra are responsible for the increased biological effects. The expression levels of IL-15 using all groups of mice of the experiment shown in FIG. 41 correlate with biological effects. The figure shows the correlation of IL-15 levels with the levels of NK cells, CD3CD49 cells, and T cells measured in the lung 3 days after DNA injection. This indicates that the increased IL-15 levels obtained by stabilization of IL-15 by the IL15Ra are responsible for the increased biological effects in a peripheral tissue such as lung.

FIG. 45 illustrates that IL15Ra Stabilizes IL-15. A: IL-15 measurements (ELISA) in extracts and media of cells transfected with IL15tPA6 (IL15t) in the presence or absence of IL-15 receptor-expressing plasmids, IL15Ra or IL15sRa. Triplicate samples were measured and bars represent SD of Extracellular (Extra), Intracellular (Intra) and total IL-15 production. B, C, D: Western blot analyses of IL-15 produced after transfections. Triplicate transfections were loaded on 12% NuPage acrylamide gels. B, cell extracts; C, medium of transfected 293 cells; D is a higher exposure of C to visualize IL15t. Electrophoresed proteins were transferred to nylon membranes and IL-15 was visualized by polyclonal anti-human IL-15antibody (AF315, R&D, 1:3000 dilution) and an enhanced chemiluminesence assay (ECL).

FIG. 46 illustrates that co-transfection of IL-15 with the full receptor alpha leads to large amounts of cell surface associated IL-15 (complexed with IL15Ra), whereas cotransfection with the soluble Receptor alpha does not. Transfected cells were analyzed by flow cytometry after surface staining with Phycoerythrin labelled anti-IL-15 Antibody (R&D). The corresponding levels of IL-15 in the media of the transfected 293 cells are shown at the table to the right (Quantikine Elisa, R&D).

FIG. 47 illustrates that IL-15 coexpression stabilizes IL15Ra. 293 cells were transfected with 50 ng of AG79 hIL15Ra or AG98 IL15sRa alone or in combination with AG59 hIL15tPA6 using the Ca phosphate coprecipitation method. Cells were harvested after 72 hours; media and cell extracts were analyzed for IL15Ra production by gel electrophoresis (10% NuPAGE gel), and western blot using a goat anti-IL15Ra antibody (1:3000 dilution) and a peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-goat IgG (1:5000 dilution). Full length glycosylated Receptor alpha migrates as a 59 kDa band, whereas the soluble extracellular part of the Receptor alpha migrates as 42 kDa. Sample dilutions of 1:2 and 1:4 were loaded as indicated at the top to quantify the amounts of produced Receptor. Mock indicates 293 cells transfected with control plasmid only (GFP).

FIGS. 48A-D illustrate the N-glycosylation patterns of IL15Ra. FIG. 48A: The predicted structures of IL15Ra and IL15sRa are indicated. The different domains are indicated. Nglyc indicates potential N-glycosylation sites. FIGS. 48B-C: Coexpression leads to the production of more surface full length Receptor and more secretion of IL15sRa in the medium. Coexpression also releases from cells IL15sRa that is less glycosylated. These results are consistent with the rapid transport and cleavage of IL15Ra at the surface of the cell in the presence of IL-15. In addition, comparison of the total amounts of IL15Ra produced indicates that in the absence of IL-15 the full length Receptor may also be degraded rapidly in the endosomal pathway. In the absence of IL-15, most of the produced IL15sRa from the IL15sRa remains cell associated and migrates as an ˜28 kDa band, indicating that it is not processed or degraded post-translationally as rapidly as the full length IL15Ra. Co-expression of IL-15 increased the secreted IL15sRa with concomitant decrease of the intracellular amount. Cell associated, 1/110 of extract loaded; Media, 1/450 loaded. FIG. 48D is a higher exposure of C to visualize the low levels of IL15sRa (produced by IL15Ra alone) in the medium. Lanes indicated with (+) contain material treated with N-glycosidase F (NEB) to identify the degree of N-glycosylation of the produced Receptor.

FIG. 49A illustrates IL-15 production in the plasma of mice injected with different DNA expression vectors as indicated. Injection of the wt cDNA expression vector for IL-15 (IL15wt) leads to low level expression, compared to the optimized vector (IL15t, IL15tPA6), which gives an ˜100 fold increase in plasma IL-15 in vivo. To measure IL-15 from the wt vector, 1 μg of DNA was injected per mouse in this experiment. Co-injection of mice with the IL15Ra or IL15sRa plasmids resulted in an addition ˜100 fold increase in plasma IL-15 levels (10⁶-fold total increase). Interestingly, whereas the peak production of IL-15 was highest using the construct expressing IL15sRa, plasma levels decreased more rapidly. Thus co-injection with full length IL15Ra led to more prolonged plasma levels of IL-15, consistent with more gradual cleavage and release from the cell surface. ▪ IL-15 wild-type; Δ improved IL-15 with tPA6 SIGPRO peptide (IL15t, also called IL15tPA6); ◯ IL15t and whole IL15Ra; ⋄ IL15t and soluble IL15Ra.

FIG. 49B illustrates improved plasma concentrations of IL-15 when administering nucleic acid vectors encoding IL-15 and ILRa at a 1:3 ratio (w/w). Mice were injected with 0.2 μg of DNA for each plasmid, except of the group 15+Ra3, which was injected with 0.2 IL-15 plasmid and 0.6 IL15Ra plasmid. Bars indicate SD. Excess of full length Receptor led to prolonged stay of IL-15 in the plasma as indicated by the high levels at day 3. Thus, coexpression with sRa leads to highest peak values of plasma IL-15, whereas coexpression with the full-length Ra leads to more prolonged IL-15 levels and possibly function. This is presumably due to more gradual release of surface IL-15 bound to the Receptor upon cleavage of and production of sRa/IL-15 complexes. Such complexes are bioactive, as indicated by the activity of coexpressed IL-15/sRa, which produced only soluble complexes. Δ improved IL-15 with tPA6 SIGPRO peptide (IL15t); ◯ IL15t and whole IL15Ra (15+Ra); ● IL15t and whole IL15Ra at a ratio of 1:3 (w/w) (15+Ra3); ⋄ IL15t and soluble IL15Ra (15+sRa).

FIG. 50 illustrates the size of mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen 3 days post DNA injection with the indicated DNAs. GFP DNA expression vector was used as negative control. IL-15 expression alone (IL15t) increased more dramatically the size of mesenteric lymph nodes compared to the spleen. This may be the result of strong IL15Ra expression in the lymph nodes, which retains plasma IL-15. The levels of plasma IL-15 measured at 3 days is also indicated.

FIG. 51 illustrates that IL15Ra and IL15sRa are O-glycosylated. Treatment with O-glycosidase (Roche) indicates that the secreted forms of the Receptor alpha are O-glycosylated. Media from 293 cells transfected with the indicated constructs were treated with O-glycosidase (lanes indicated with +) and compared to the untreated material (−).

FIG. 52 illustrates increases in lung NK cells 3 days after hydrodynamic DNA delivery of the indicated plasmids in the tail vein of mice. Different groups of mice were injected with 0.1 μg of plasmids expressing IL-15tPA6, IL-15tPA6+IL15Ra (full length Receptor alpha), IL-15tPA6+IL15sRa (soluble Receptor alpha). The group indicated with IL15t+Ra.3 received 0.1 μg of IL-15tPA6 and 0.3 μg of IL15Ra plasmids (IL-15 and IL15Ra at a 1:3 ratio (w/w)). This ratio (approximately 1:3) of IL-15 to Receptor DNA showed a trend for more lung NK cells. The difference between IL-15 alone and IL-15+sRa is significant (P<0.01, one-way Anova, Dunnett's Multiple Comparison Test).

FIG. 53 illustrates plasma IL-15 concentrations (pg/ml) after injection of DNA in macaque muscle. Average plasma values of IL-15 measured in macaque plasma by Elisa (Quantiglo, R&D) at the indicated days. A single IM injection followed by electroporation using Advisys system (Woodlands, Tex., advisys.net) was performed for each macaque at days 0, 14 and 28, as indicated by arrows. Average values for 3 macaques receiving the combination of IL-15/15 Receptor alpha (IL15/Ra, circles) or the IL-15 expression vector only (IL15, triangles) are shown. The results show that IL15/15Ra vector combination increased dramatically the plasma levels of IL-15, whereas IL-15 vector alone did not.

FIG. 54 illustrates that intramuscular injection of IL-15/15Ra DNA vectors leads to increased plasma IL-15 levels. Six Rhesus macaques were injected intramascularly in a single site with macaque IL-15/15Ra DNA expression vectors. Two injections of DNA at days 0 and 14 were performed using 100 μg (animals M100, M115, M120) or 250 μg (animals M122, M125, M126) of each plasmid. DNA (0.5 ml) was electroporated in the muscle using the Advisys electroporation system under conditions of 0.5 Amps, 52 msec pulse length, 80 sec lag time using a constant current pulse pattern. The results show elevated plasma IL-15 levels in 4/6 macaque during the first inoculation, and in 6/6 macaques during the second.

FIG. 55 illustrates IL-15 plasma ELISA at days 4, 5, 19 and 20 after two immunizations. Concentrations of IL-15 (pg/ml) were measured in macaque plasma after DNA vaccination together with IL-15/15Ra. Five macaques (M529, M531, M579, M581, M583) were electroporated at days 0 and 15, and plasma was obtained and analyzed by IL-15 ELISA at days 4, 5, 19 and 20. Three animals in the same study (M530, M573, M575; dashed lines) were not immunized and used as controls. Four of the five electroporated animals showed great increases in plasma IL-15, whereas one animal (529M) did not.

FIG. 56 illustrates IL15/15Ra augmented the specific immune responses against SIV, and assisted in the generation of multifunctional antigen-specific cytokine producing cells (IFNgamma and IL-2) and of effector cells. (Top 3 panels): IFNgamma producing cells per million lymphocytes upon in vitro stimulation with peptide pools for gag, env, nef pol and tat, respectively. The three macaques were vaccinated with a mixture of DNA vectors encoding for SIV antigens, IL-15 and IL15Ra at weeks 0, 4, 8, and PBMC were isolated and tested every 2 weeks as indicated. (Bottom panel): SIV specific IL-2 producing T cells per million lymphocytes at weeks 11-21 (two weeks after release from therapy). PBMC were isolated and stimulated in vitro with peptide pools corresponding to gag, env, nef, tat or pol proteins of SIVmac239. Week 11 was the first time that multifunctional IL-2 secreting SIV specific cells were detected in these macaques. These animal participated in a previous immunotherapy experiment, but did not previously have IL-2 producing cells.

FIG. 57 illustrates the presence of circulating multifunctional central memory (CM) and effector memory (EM) cells in the DNA vaccinated macaques 2 weeks after the third vaccination. CM cells were defined as CD28+CD45RA−. EM cells were CD28-CD45RAlow/+.

FIG. 58 illustrates a map of a construct that coordinately expresses IL-15 and IL15Ra.

FIG. 59 illustrates a map of a construct that coordinately expresses IL-15tPA6 and IL15Ra.

FIG. 60 illustrates a map of a construct that coordinately expresses IL-15tPA6 and IL15sRa.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1. Introduction

The cytokine interleukin-15, in encoding nucleic acid or protein form, finds use as an immune cell stimulant (e.g., lymphocyte expansion and activation) and vaccine adjuvant. Native IL-15 coding sequences do not express IL-15 optimally because of several different reasons, including signals within the RNA sequence such as potential splice sites and low stability determinants (oftentimes A/T or A/U rich) sequences embedded within the coding sequences. By minimizing potential splice sites and low stability sequences from IL-15 sequences, expression of IL-15 protein can be increased as much as 4-fold, 5-fold, 6-fold, 8-fold, 10-fold, 15-fold, 20-fold, 30-fold or more in comparison to expression from native mammalian IL-15 sequences. A general method has been established for this purpose, comprising changing several codons of the encoded mRNA to alternative codons encoding the same amino acid (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,965,726; 5,972,596; 6,174,666; 6,291,664; 6,414,132; and 6,794,498, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes). This results in the change of any negatively acting signals embedded into the RNA without altering the produced protein.

Production of IL-15 protein in mammalian cells can be further increased by swapping the native IL-15 signal peptide and/or propeptide sequences with the signal peptide and/or propeptide sequences from a heterologous protein, including for example, tissue plasminogen activator, growth hormone or an immunoglobulin protein. Using an improved coding sequence for mature IL-15 fused to a heterologous signal peptide and/or propeptide, expression levels of IL-15 mammalian cells can be increased 20-fold, 40-fold, 50-fold, 70-fold, 90-fold for more in comparison to expression from a wild-type IL-15 sequence, and an additional 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold, 5-fold or more in comparison to expression from an improved IL-15 coding sequence having native signal peptide and/or propeptide sequences (see, FIG. 1).

2. Nucleic Acid Sequences

The improved high expressing IL-15 nucleic acid sequences of the invention are usually based on a native mammalian interleukin-15 coding sequence as a template. Nucleic acids sequences encoding native interleukin-15 can be readily found in publicly available databases including nucleotide, protein and scientific databases available on the worldwide web through the National Center for Biotechnology Information at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Native IL-15 nucleic acid sequences can be conveniently cloned from numerous mammalian tissues, including placenta, skeletal muscle, kidney, lung, heart and monocytes/macrophages (see, Grabstein, et al., Science (1994) 264:965). Protocols for isolation and stimulation of desired immune cell populations are well known in the art. See, for example, Current Protocols in Immunology, Coligan, et al., eds., 1991-2006, John Wiley & Sons.

The sequences are modified according to methods that simultaneously rectify several factors affecting mRNA traffic, stability and expression. Codons are altered to change the overall mRNA AT(AU)-content, to minimize or remove all potential splice sites, and to alter any other inhibitory sequences and signals affecting the stability and processing of mRNA such as runs of A or T/U nucleotides, AATAAA, ATTTA and closely related variant sequences, known to negatively affect mRNA stability. The methods applied to IL-15 coding nucleic acid sequences in the present application have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,794,498; 6,414,132; 6,291,664; 5,972,596; and 5,965,726 the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Generally, the changes to the nucleotide bases or codons of a coding IL-15 sequence do not alter the amino acid sequence comprising an IL-15 protein from the native IL-15 protein. The changes are based upon the degeneracy of the genetic code, utilizing an alternative codon for an identical amino acid, as summarized in Table 1, above. In certain embodiments, it will be desirable to alter one or more codons to encode a similar amino acid residue rather than an identical amino acid residue. Applicable conservative substitutions of coded amino acid residues are described above.

Oftentimes, in carrying out the present methods for increasing the stability of an IL-15 coding sequence, a relatively more A/T-rich codon of a particular amino acid is replaced with a relatively more G/C rich codon encoding the same amino acid (see, for example FIGS. 2 and 4). For example, amino acids encoded by relatively more A/T-rich and relatively more G/C rich codons are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 relatively more relatively more Amino Acid A/T-rich codon(s) G/C-rich codon(s) Ala GCA, GCT GCC, GCG Asn AAT AAC Asp GAT GAC Arg CGA, CGT, AGA CGC, CGG, AGG Cys TGT TGC Gln CAA CAG Glu GAA GAG Gly GGA, GGT GGC, GGG His CAT CAC Ile ATA, ATT ATC Leu TTA, CTA, CTT TTG, CTC, CTG Lys AAA AAG Phe TTT TTC Pro CCA, CCT CCC, CCG Ser TCA, TCT, AGT TCC, TCG, AGC Thr ACA, ACT ACC, ACG Tyr TAT TAC Val GTA, GTT GTC, GTG

Depending on the number of changes introduced, the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences of the present invention can be conveniently made as completely synthetic sequences. Techniques for constructing synthetic nucleic acid sequences encoding a protein or synthetic gene sequences are well known in the art. Synthetic gene sequences can be commercially purchased through any of a number of service companies, including DNA 2.0 (Menlo Park, Calif.), Geneart (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), CODA Genomics (Irvine, Calif.), and GenScript, Corporation (Piscataway, N.J.). Alternatively, codon changes can be introduced using techniques well known in the art. The modifications also can be carried out, for example, by site-specific in vitro mutagenesis or by PCR or by any other genetic engineering methods known in art which are suitable for specifically changing a nucleic acid sequence. In vitro mutagenesis protocols are described, for example, in In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols, Braman, ed., 2002, Humana Press, and in Sankaranarayanan, Protocols in Mutagenesis, 2001, Elsevier Science Ltd.

High level expressing improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra sequences can be constructed by altering select codons throughout a native IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequence, or by altering codons at the 5′-end, the 3′-end, or within a middle subsequence. It is not necessary that every codon be altered, but that a sufficient number of codons are altered so that the expression (i.e., transcription and/or translation) of the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequence is at least about 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 1-fold, 2-fold, 4-fold, 8-fold, 20-fold, 40-fold, 80-fold or more abundant in comparison to expression from a native IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequence under the same conditions. Expression can be detected over time or at a designated endpoint, using techniques known to those in the art, for example, using gel electrophoresis or anti-IL-15 or anti-IL15Ra antibodies in solution phase or solid phase binding reactions (e.g., ELISA, immunohistochemistry). Interleukin-15 ELISA detection kits are commercially available from, for example, RayBiotech, Norcross, Ga.; Antigenix America, Huntington Station, N.Y.; eBioscience, San Diego, Calif.; Biosource (Invitrogen), Camarillo, Calif.; R & D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn.), and PeproTech, Rocky Hill, N.J.

Usually at least about 50% of the changed nucleotides or codons whose positions are identified in FIG. 8 are changed to another nucleotide or codon such that the same or a similar amino acid residue is encoded. In other embodiments, at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% of the changed codons identified in FIG. 8 are changed to another nucleotide or codon such that the same or a similar amino acid residue is encoded.

The nucleotide positions that can be changed for an improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequence as identified in FIG. 8 are 6, 9, 15, 18, 21, 22, 27, 30, 33, 49, 54, 55, 57, 60, 63, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 96, 105, 106, 114, 120, 123, 129, 132, 135, 138, 141, 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 and 486.

The GC-content of an improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequence is usually increased in comparison to a native IL-15 nucleic acid sequence when applying the present methods. For example, the GC-content of an improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequence can be at least about 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65% or more.

In some embodiments, the native IL-15 signal peptide (SIG) sequence or signal peptide and propeptide (SIG-PRO) sequence is replaced with the secretory SIG sequence or SIG-PRO sequence from a heterologous protein (i.e., a protein other than IL-15) (see, for example, FIG. 9). Exemplified signal peptide and propeptide sequences include those from tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) protein, growth hormone, GM-CSF, and immunoglobulin proteins. Tissue plasminogen activator signal peptide and propeptide sequences are known in the art (see, Delogu, et al, Infect Immun (2002) 70:292; GenBank Accession No. E08757). Growth hormone signal peptide and propeptide sequences also are known in the art (see, Pecceu, et al., Gene (1991) 97:253; GenBank Accession Nos. M35049 and X02891). Immunoglobulin signal peptide and propeptide sequences, for example of immunoglobulin heavy chains, also are known in the art (see, Lo, et al., Protein Eng. (1998) 11:495 and Gen Bank Accession Nos. Z75389 and D14633). Signal peptide-IL-15 fusion proteins and SIG-PRO-IL-15 fusion proteins can have cleavage sequences recognized by site-specific proteases incorporated at one or more sites of the fusion proteins, for example, immediately before the N-terminal amino acid residue of the mature IL-15. Numerous cleavage sequences recognized by site-specific proteases are known in the art, including those for furin, thrombin, enterokinase, Factor Xa, and the like.

In one embodiment, the native IL-15 signal peptide and propeptide sequences are replaced with the signal peptide and propeptide sequences from tPA. In a further embodiment, the tPA SIG-PRO sequence is altered to remove one or more amino acid residues and/or to incorporate a protease cleavage site (e.g., thrombin, enterokinase, Factor Xa). See, FIG. 12.

In some embodiments, the native IL15Ra signal peptide (SIG) sequence or signal peptide and propeptide (SIG-PRO) sequence is replaced with the secretory SIG sequence or SIG-PRO sequence from a heterologous protein (i.e., a protein other than IL15Ra). Exemplified signal peptide and propeptide sequences include those discussed above, for example, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) protein, GM-CSF, growth hormone, and immunoglobulin proteins. In some embodiments, the IL15Ra nucleic sequences do not encode an immunoglobulin sequence, for example, an operably linked Fc sequence.

Once a high level expressing improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequence has been constructed, it can be cloned into a cloning vector, for example a TA-cloning® vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) before subjecting to further manipulations for insertion into one or more expression vectors. Manipulations of improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequences, including recombinant modifications and purification, can be carried out using procedures well known in the art. Such procedures have been published, for example, in Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2000, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, et al., eds., 1987-2006, John Wiley & Sons.

3. Expression Vectors

IL-15 and IL15Ra sequences can be recombinantly expressed from an expression vector containing an improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra coding sequence. One or both of the IL-15 and/or IL15Ra coding sequences can be improved. The expression vectors of the invention have an expression cassette that will express one or both of IL-15 and IL15Ra in a mammalian cell. The IL-15 and IL15Ra can be expressed from the same or multiple vectors. The IL-15 and IL15Ra can be expressed from the same vector from one or multiple expression cassettes (e.g., a single expression cassette with an internal ribosome entry site; or a double expression cassette using two promoters and two polyA sites). Within each expression cassette, sequences encoding an IL-15 and an IL15Ra will be operably linked to expression regulating sequences. “Operably linked” sequences include both expression control sequences that are contiguous with the nucleic acid of interest and expression control sequences that act in trans or at a distance to control the gene of interest. Expression control sequences include appropriate transcription initiation, termination, promoter and enhancer sequences; efficient RNA processing signals such as splicing and polyadenylation signals; sequences that stabilize cytoplasmic mRNA; sequences that promote RNA export (e.g., a constitutive transport element (CTE), a RNA transport element (RTE), or combinations thereof, including RTEm26CTE); sequences that enhance translation efficiency (e.g., Kozak consensus sequence); sequences that enhance protein stability; and when desired, sequences that enhance protein secretion.

The expression vector can optionally also have a third independent expression vector for expressing a selectable marker. Selectable markers are well known in the art, and can include, for example, proteins that confer resistance to an antibiotics, fluorescent proteins, antibody epitopes, etc. Exemplified markers that confer antibiotic resistance include sequences encoding β-lactamases (against β-lactams including penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin), or sequences encoding resistance to tetracylines, aminoglycosides (e.g., kanamycin, neomycin), etc. Exemplified fluorescent proteins include green fluorescent protein, yellow fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein.

The promoter(s) included in the expression cassette(s) should promote expression of the IL-15 and/or an IL15Ra polypeptide in a mammalian cell. The promoter or promoters can be viral, oncoviral or native mammalian, constitutive or inducible, or can preferentially regulate transcription of IL-15 and/or IL15Ra in a particular tissue type or cell type (e.g., “tissue-specific”).

A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active under most environmental and developmental conditions. Exemplified constitutive promoters in mammalian cells include oncoviral promoters (e.g., simian cytomegalovirus (CMV), human CMV, simian virus 40 (SV40), rous sarcoma virus (RSV)), promoters for immunoglobulin elements (e.g., IgH), promoters for “housekeeping” genes (e.g., β-actin, dihydrofolate reductase).

In another embodiment, inducible promoters may be desired. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter that is active under environmental or developmental regulation. Inducible promoters are those which are regulated by exogenously supplied compounds, including without limitation, a zinc-inducible metallothionine (MT) promoter; an isopropyl thiogalactose (IPTG)-inducible promoter, a dexamethasone (Dex)-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter; a tetracycline-repressible system (Gossen et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 5547-5551 (1992)); the tetracycline-inducible system (Gossen et al., Science, 268: 1766-1769 (1995); see also Harvey et al., Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol., 2: 512-518 (1998)); the RU486-inducible system (Wang et al., Nat. Biotech., 15: 239-243 (1997) and Wang et al., Gene Ther., 4: 432-441 (1997)); and the rapamycin-inducible system (Magari et al. J. Clin. Invest., 100: 2865-2872 (1997)). Other types of inducible promoters which can be useful in this context are those which are regulated by a specific physiological state, e.g., temperature, acute phase, or in replicating cells only.

In another embodiment, the native promoter for a mammalian IL-15 can be used. The native promoter may be preferred when it is desired that expression of improved IL-15 sequences should mimic the native expression. The native promoter can be used when expression of the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra must be regulated temporally or developmentally, or in a tissue-specific manner, or in response to specific transcriptional stimuli. In a further embodiment, other native expression control elements, such as enhancer elements, polyadenylation sites or Kozak consensus sequences may also be used to mimic expression of native IL-15 and/or IL15Ra.

In another embodiment, the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra sequences can be operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter. For instance, if expression in lymphocytes or monocytes is desired, a promoter active in lymphocytes or monocytes, respectively, should be used. Examples of promoters that are tissue-specific are known for numerous tissues, including liver (albumin, Miyatake et al. J. Virol., 71: 5124-32 (1997); hepatitis B virus core promoter, Sandig et al., Gene Ther., 3: 1002-9 (1996); alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Arbuthnot et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 7: 1503-14 (1996)), bone (osteocalcin, Stein et al., Mol. Biol. Rep., 24: 185-96 (1997); bone sialoprotein, Chen et al., J. Bone Miner. Res., 11: 654-64 (1996)), lymphocytes (CD2, Hansal et al., J. Immunol., 161: 1063-8 (1998); immunoglobulin heavy chain; T cell receptor α chain), neuronal (neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter, Andersen et al. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol., 13: 503-15 (1993); neurofilament light-chain gene, Piccioli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 5611-5 (1991); the neuron-specific vgf gene, Piccioli et al., Neuron, 15: 373-84 (1995)); among others.

In some embodiments, the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra sequences are operably linked to one or more mRNA export sequences. Exemplified mRNA export elements include the constitutive transport element (CTE), which is important for the nucleo-cytoplasmic export of the unspliced RNA of the simian type D retroviruses. Another exemplified RNA export element includes the RNA transport element (RTE), which is present in a subset of rodent intracisternal A particle retroelements. The CTE and RTE elements can be used individually or in combination. In one embodiment, the RTE is an RTEm26 (e.g., SEQ ID NO:22). In one embodiment, the RTEM26 and the CTE are positioned in the 3′-untranslated region of a transcript encoded by the expression cassette. Often, the RTE and the CTE are separated by 100 nucleotides or less. In some embodiments, the RTE and the CTE are separated by 30 nucleotides or less. In one embodiment, the RTE and the CTE are comprised by the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:23 (RTEm26CTE). RNA transport elements for use in further increasing the expression of improved IL-15 sequences are described, for example, in International Patent Publication No. WO 04/113547, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

4. Mammalian Cells

The expression vectors of the invention can be expressed in mammalian host cells. The host cells can be in vivo in a host or in vitro. For example, expression vectors containing high-level expressing IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences can be transfected into cultured mammalian host cells in vitro, or delivered to a mammalian host cell in a mammalian host in vivo.

Exemplary host cells that can be used to express improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences include mammalian primary cells and established mammalian cell lines, including COS, CHO, HeLa, NIH3T3, HEK 293-T, RD and PC12 cells. Mammalian host cells for expression of IL-15 and/or IL15Ra proteins from high level expressing improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are commercially available from, for example, the American Type Tissue Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va. Protocols for in vitro culture of mammalian cells is also well known in the art. See, for example, Handbook of Industrial Cell Culture: Mammalian, Microbial, and Plant Cells, Vinci, et al., eds., 2003, Humana Press; and Mammalian Cell Culture: Essential Techniques, Doyle and Griffiths, eds., 1997, John Wiley & Sons.

Protocols for transfecting mammalian host cells in vitro and expressing recombinant nucleic acid sequences are well known in the art. See, for example, Sambrook and Russell, and Ausubel, et al, supra; Gene Delivery to Mammalian Cells: Nonviral Gene Transfer Techniques, Methods in Molecular Biology series, Heiser, ed., 2003, Humana Press; and Makrides, Gene Transfer and Expression in Mammalian Cells, New Comprehensive Biochemistry series, 2003, Elsevier Science. Mammalian host cells modified to express the improved IL-15 nucleic acid sequences can be transiently or stably transfected with a recombinant vector. The improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra sequences can remain epigenetic or become chromosomally integrated.

5. Administration of Improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra Sequences

The high level expression improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are suitable for administration to an individual alone, for example to treat immunodeficiency (e.g., promote the expansion of lymphocytes, including B cells, T cells, NK cells and NK T cells), or as an adjuvant co-delivered with one or more vaccine antigens. The use of IL-15 and/or IL15Ra for the treatment of immune deficiency and as an adjuvant is known in the art (see, for example, Diab, et al., supra; Ahmad, et al, supra; and Alpdogan and van den Brink, supra).

In one embodiment, high level expressing improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are co-administered with one or more vaccine antigens, with at least the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences delivered as naked DNA. The one or more antigen can be delivered as one or more polypeptide antigens or a nucleic acid encoding one or more antigens. Naked DNA vaccines are generally known in the art; see, Wolff, et al., Science (1990) 247:1465; Brower, Nature Biotechnology (1998) 16:1304; and Wolff, et al., Adv Genet (2005) 54:3. Methods for the use of nucleic acids as DNA vaccines are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. See, DNA Vaccines, Ertl, ed., 2003, Kluwer Academic Pub and DNA Vaccines: Methods and Protocols, Lowrie and Whalen, eds., 1999, Humana Press. The methods include placing a nucleic acid encoding one or more antigens under the control of a promoter for expression in a patient. Co-administering high level expressing improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences further enhances the immune response against the one or more antigens. Without being bound by theory, following expression of the polypeptide encoded by the DNA vaccine, cytotoxic T-cells, helper T-cells and antibodies are induced which recognize and destroy or eliminate cells or pathogens expressing the antigen.

In one embodiment, one or both of the IL-15 and/or IL15Ra sequences are co-administered as proteins.

The invention contemplates compositions comprising improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra amino acid and nucleic acid sequences in a physiologically acceptable carrier. While any suitable carrier known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention, the type of carrier will vary depending on the mode of administration. For parenteral administration, including intranasal, intradermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection or electroporation, the carrier preferably comprises water, saline, and optionally an alcohol, a fat, a polymer, a wax, one or more stabilizing amino acids or a buffer. General formulation technologies are known to those of skill in the art (see, for example, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (20th edition), Gennaro, ed., 2000, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Injectable Dispersed Systems: Formulation, Processing And Performance, Burgess, ed., 2005, CRC Press; and Pharmaceutical Formulation Development of Peptides and Proteins, Frkjr et al., eds., 2000, Taylor & Francis).

Naked DNA can be delivered in solution (e.g., a phosphate-buffered saline solution) by injection, usually by an intra-arterial, intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular route. In general, the dose of a naked nucleic acid composition is from about 10 μg to 10 mg for a typical 70 kilogram patient. Subcutaneous or intramuscular doses for naked nucleic acid (typically DNA encoding a fusion protein) will range from 0.1 mg to 50 mg for a 70 kg patient in generally good health.

DNA vaccinations can be administered once or multiple times. In some embodiments, the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences are administered more than once, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 20 or more times as needed to induce the desired response (e.g., specific antigenic response or proliferation of immune cells). Multiple administrations can be administered, for example, bi-weekly, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, or more or less often, as needed, for a time period sufficient to achieve the desired response.

In some embodiments, the improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid compositions are administered by liposome-based methods, electroporation or biolistic particle acceleration. A delivery apparatus (e.g., a “gene gun”) for delivering DNA into cells in vivo can be used. Such an apparatus is commercially available (e.g., BioRad, Hercules, Calif., Chiron Vaccines, Emeryville, Calif.). Naked DNA can also be introduced into cells by complexing the DNA to a cation, such as polylysine, which is coupled to a ligand for a cell-surface receptor (see, for example, Wu, G. and Wu, C. H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:14621; Wilson et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:963-967; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,166,320; 6,846,809; 6,733,777; 6,720,001; 6,290,987). Liposome formulations for delivery of naked DNA to mammalian host cells are commercially available from, for example, Encapsula NanoSciences, Nashville, Tenn. An electroporation apparatus for use in delivery of naked DNA to mammalian host cells is commercially available from, for example, Inovio Biomedical Corporation, San Diego, Calif.

The improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid vaccine compositions are administered to a mammalian host. The mammalian host usually is a human or a primate. In some embodiments, the mammalian host can be a domestic animal, for example, canine, feline, lagomorpha, rodentia, rattus, hamster, murine. In other embodiment, the mammalian host is an agricultural animal, for example, bovine, ovine, porcine, equine, etc.

6. Methods of Expressing IL-15 and/or IL15Ra in Mammalian Cells

The methods of the present invention provide for expressing IL-15 and/or IL15Ra in a mammalian cell by introducing a recombinant vector into the cell to express the high level improved IL-15 and/or IL15Ra nucleic acid sequences described herein. The modified mammalian cell can be in vitro or in vivo in a mammalian host.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit the claimed invention.

Example 1

The strategy for introducing nucleotide changes into IL-15 sequences is to simultaneously rectify several factors affecting mRNA traffic, stability and expression. Codons are altered to change the overall mRNA AT(AU)-content or to remove any other inhibitory signals within the RNA such as all potential splice sites (computer programs predicting potential splice sites can be found for example at web sites such as fruitfly.org/seq_tools/splice.html, or sun1.softberry.com/berry.phtml) and also to alter sequences such as runs of A or T/U nucleotides, AATAAA, ATTTA and closely related variant sequences, known to negatively affect mRNA. By substituting codons with a different codon encoding the identical amino acid, the chosen codon can be more GC-rich, or can have a different sequence that is sufficient to alter the RNA structure. This approach has been described in several patents, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,965,726; 5,972,596; 6,174,666; 6,291,664; 6,414,132; and 6,794,498.

Procedures

Standard lab techniques are used to generate, purify and sequence plasmid DNAs. One microgram (1 μg) of the plasmids containing the indicated IL-15 coding sequence were transfected into human 293 or RD cells seeded into 60 mm plates the day before with 10⁶ cells using calcium coprecipitation technique (293 cells) and the SuperFect Reagent protocol (Qiagen) for RD4 cells. 2-3 days later, intracellular and extracellular and total IL-15 protein was measured using commercial kits (R&D system). Due to the high homology of the human and Rhesus IL-15 proteins, their protein levels were determined by the same commercial ELISA kit. The results of different experiments are shown in FIGS. 7, 10, 11, 13, 25, 26 and 27.

Example 2

This example demonstrates the improved expression sequences for IL-15 Receptor alpha and the soluble (extracellular) part of IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15sRa). These improved sequences increased protein expression of the IL-15 Receptor alpha and provide a method to further optimize the activity of IL-15 in vivo and in vitro.

Results

FIGS. 39 and 40 show that co-expression of IL-15 with IL-15 Receptor alpha optimized sequences in human 293 cells in vitro using standard transfection methods led to a dramatic increase of total IL-15 levels measured. This increase is the result of stabilization of the IL-15 molecule by binding to the whole IL-15 receptor alpha or to the extracellular part of the IL-15 receptor alpha. The results were similar if the IL-15 and the receptor were expressed by two different plasmids or expressed by a single plasmid from two different promoters.

FIG. 41 shows a great increase in the levels of lung NK cells and also increases of Lung CD3+CD49+ cells when IL-15 and IL-15 receptor DNA were delivered and expressed in mice tissues after tail vein injection. The number of cells is given per 10⁵ cells in the analysis file.

FIG. 42 shows the increase of NK cells and T cells in the liver of mice after DNA injection of IL-15 alone, IL-15+IL-15 Receptor alpha, or IL-15+IL-15 soluble Receptor alpha. The number of cells is given per 10⁶ cells in the analysis file.

FIG. 43 shows the increase in the effector cells in the spleen (total effectors and CD8 effectors, respectively). The lack of CD62L defines a population of murine memory T cells with effector phenotype.

FIG. 44 indicates that the increased IL-15 levels obtained by stabilization of IL-15 by the IL15Ra are responsible for the increased biological effects.

Methods:

Expression in Cultured Cells

Human 293 cells were transfected with 0.1 μg of the human IL15tPA6OPT plasmid either alone or together with 0.1 μg of a plasmid expressing the RNA optimized versions of the human IL-15 receptor alpha using either the full length form (huIL15RaOPT) or the soluble form (hu sIL15RaOPT). Medium was taken at 24 and at 48 hours posttransfection and cells were harvested at 48 hrs. IL-15 levels were measured using Quantikine Human IL-15 immunoassay (R&D systems) prior to release from the cell.

Expression in Mouse

Six week old Balb/c mice were either injected with DNA via the intramuscular route into both of the quadriceps or hydrodynamically via the tail vein. For the hydrodynamic DNA delivery, the mice were injected with 1 μg of human IL15-tPA6OPT plasmid either alone or together with 1 μg the plasmid expressing the human IL-15 Receptor alpha using either the intact form (huIL15RaOPT) or the soluble form (hu sIL15RaOPT) in 1.6 ml of sterile 0.9% NaCl via the tail vein. Three days later, mice were sacrificed and the levels of IL-15 were measured in the plasma using a commercial chemiluminescent immunoassay (Quantiglo, R&D). The bioactivity of IL-15 was measured in liver, spleen and lung using multicolor FACS. Briefly, cells were staining ex-vivo with the following panel of conjugated rat anti-mouse antibodies: APCCy7-CD3, PerCP-CD4, PECy7- CD8, APC-CD44, FITC-CD49b and PE-CD62L, BD-Pharmingen and analyzed by flow cytometry. Murine NK cells are phenotypically identified as CD3-CD49b+.

Example 3

This example demonstrates the mutual stabilization of IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor alpha. The data demonstrate that combined production of IL-15 and IL15Ra endogenously allows the two molecules to efficiently combine in a functional secreted form.

In the presence of IL-15, the IL-15 Receptor alpha is rapidly delivered to the surface of the cell (see, FIG. 46) and it is also rapidly cleaved (see, FIG. 47). Thus, expression of the full receptor leads rapidly to the soluble receptor/IL-15 complex, which is released in the circulation and can act at distant tissues.

This example follows the in vivo production of IL-15 by measuring the plasma levels over time (see, FIG. 49). The soluble receptor/IL-15 gene combination gives a sharp peak of plasma IL-15, which is rapidly decreased, whereas the complete receptor/IL-15 combination gives a lower peak but decays less rapidly. This allows the delivery of different formulations having more or less prolonged action in vivo.

Results

Cells transfected with IL-15 alone express and secrete IL-15 inefficiently. In addition, like many cytokine mRNAs, the IL-15 mRNA is unstable and can be improved by RNA/codon optimization. RNA/codon optimization can be used to increase IL-15 and IL15Ra mRNA levels and expression. In addition, the secretory pre-peptide of IL-15 can be exchanged with the tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) secretory leader peptide, or with other secretory peptides such as IgE or GM-CSF. These improvements have resulted in a 100-fold increase of expression using the human CMV promoter and Bovine Growth Hormone polyadenylation signal in standard expression vectors.

FIG. 45 shows the in vitro expression of IL-15 after transfection in human 293 cells. The use of optimized expression vector (IL15t, which indicates IL15tPA6OPT) having the tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) prepro leader sequence produced easily detectable levels of IL-15 in the media (i.e., extracellularly and intracellularly). Furthermore, co-expression of IL-15 together with IL15Ra resulted in a dramatic increase of IL-15 production, both intracellularly and extracellularly. This expression level was approximately 20-fold higher compared to the expression from the wild type cDNA.

Coexpression of IL-15 with the full length (i.e., whole) IL15Ra resulted in high levels of the IL-15 and IL15Ra molecules localized in the cell surface of expressing cells (FIG. 46), whereas coexpression of IL-15 with the soluble, extracellular portion of IL15Ra (i.e., soluble IL-15) resulted in rapid secretion of the complex in the medium. The total increase in IL-15 steady-state levels was 4-fold in the presence of IL15Ra and 7-fold in the presence of IL15sRa, as measured by ELISA (FIG. 45A).

Conversely, the presence of co-expressed IL-15 also increased the levels of IL15Ra and IL15sRa (FIG. 47). Western blot analysis using different dilutions of media and cell extracts after transfections of 293 cells with IL15Ra or IL15sRa in the presence or absence of IL-15 showed a 3- to 8-fold increase in receptor steady-state levels in the presence of IL-15. The receptor increase is in general similar to the IL-15 increase upon coexpression, measured above.

After expression of the membrane associated full IL15Ra, large quantities of the soluble extracellular portion were detected in the medium, consistent with rapid cleavage of the receptor and generation of the soluble form. When IL-15 was co-expressed, the levels of soluble receptor in the medium were elevated (FIG. 47C). Expression of IL15sRa resulted in high levels of a ˜28 kDa intracellular form of the receptor, which is the primary transcript of the transfected cDNA, without any glycosylation, as well as an additional N-glycosylated ˜30 kDa form (see below). Low levels of the fully glycosylated IL15sRa were found cell-associated, whereas most of it was secreted in the medium. In the presence of co-expressed IL-15, the intracellular non-glycosylated form was drastically reduced, whereas the glycosylated forms, especially the extracellular, were greatly increased. These results are consistent with the conclusion that an early intracellular association of IL-15 to its receptor alpha takes place during the production and secretion of these two molecules. In the absence of IL-15, IL15sRa remains to a large extent intracellular and it is not processed or secreted rapidly.

Both IL-15 and IL15Ra are glycosylated molecules and migrate as multiple bands in SDS-PAGE gels. IL15Ra is both N- and O-glycosylated (Dubois et al., 1999 J Biol Chem 274(38):26978-84), whereas IL-15 is N-glycosylated. It has been reported that the different IL15Ra protein products are due to alternate N- and O-glycosylations of a 39-kDa precursor (Dubois et al., 1999). Treatment with N- or O-glycosidases revealed that most of the cell associated IL15Ra receptor is rapidly glycosylated. In contrast, expression of the IL15sRa alone revealed an approximately 28 kDa band for the IL15sRa, which was only seen intracellularly. In the presence of IL15, this intracellular band decreased dramatically with coordinate increase in the extracellular glycosylated forms.

To determine whether the increased expression resulted in better biological activity, IL-15 and IL15Ra or IL15sRa DNA molecules were expressed in mice after hydrodynamic DNA delivery by tail vein injection. Mice were administered 0.1 μg to 2 μg DNA for these experiments, and IL-15 levels in the plasma were measured. Three days after a single DNA injection, mice were sacrificed and selected tissues were analyzed for the number and phenotype of T cells, NK cells, and other lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry. FIG. 52 shows that co-expression of IL-15 and the Receptor alpha increased the number of NK cells in the lung. This increase was more prominent when the plasmid expressing the receptor was injected at a higher molar ratio (3:1, 0.1 μg of IL-15 plasmid and 0.3 μg of IL15Ra plasmid). Co-expression of the soluble part of IL-15 Receptor alpha gave a dramatic increase in lung NK cells.

Example 4

This example shows the use of IL-15/IL15Ra combination in a therapeutic vaccination of macaques. The IL-15/IL15Ra combination increased antigen specific cells, especially CD8 effectors, and also cells that express IL-2 or IL-2 and IFNgamma upon antigen stimulation (i.e., multifunctional cells, which are considered important for effective vaccination).

This example also follows expression of IL-15 in macaque plasma, and show that IL-15/15Ra co-expression achieves detectable production in macaque plasma. Control experiments show that this production is much higher compared to animals receiving only IL-15 DNA.

Three macaques were subjected to a second round of antiretroviral treatment (“ART”) and DNA vaccination using plasmids expressing improved IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor alpha (IL15Ra) Immunization was done by electroporation using the following plasmid mix: Two injections of 0.5 ml were performed for each animal. Peripheral blood monocytes (“PBMC”) were isolated at 2 week intervals and analyzed for numbers of SIV-specific cells using 10 parameter flow cytometry. This allowed the enumeration and phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes producing IFNg, IL-2 or TNFa in response to stimulation by peptide pools corresponding to gag, pol, env, nef, and tat proteins of SIVmac259.

The results of this analysis (FIG. 56) show a dramatic increase of average and peak responses of SIV-specific cytokine producing cells. All three animals had low levels of IFNg producing cells during ART and prior to DNA vaccination. This is expected since ART decreased SIV to undetectable levels in all three animals. Upon vaccination a persistent increase of SIV-specific cells was detected. More importantly, vaccination generated IL-2-secreting cells (FIG. 56) as well as double IFNg and IL-2 secreting cells (i.e., multifunctional cells). This occurred only after the third DNA vaccination, whereas in all previous determinations these macaques did not have any polyfunctional cytokine secreting cells in their peripheral blood.

The three vaccinated macaques showed dramatic increases in the number of SIV-specific cytokine-producing cells in PBMC with either central memory (CM) or effector memory (EM) phenotype (FIG. 57). The appearance of increased levels of effector cells in PBMC upon vaccination with the optimized mix of DNAs is in contrast to our previous experience, where DNA vaccination was able to generate SIV-specific central memory but not effector memory cells. We attribute this to the more optimal mix of DNA vaccines and to the presence of effective levels of IL15/IL15Ra cytokine.

Macaque administered DNA encoding IL-15 without co-administration of DNA encoding IL15Ra did not have IL-2 producing cells.

In summary, the optimized DNA vaccine vector mix and the inclusion of optimized levels of DNAs expressing IL-15 and IL15Ra resulted in a dramatic increase in antigen-specific cells detected in the peripheral blood. In addition to increased levels of cells, important phenotypic differences were detected by our analysis. The vaccine-generated antigen-specific cells were shown to include IL-2 producing as well as dual IFNg and IL-2 producing cells. Vaccination with IL-15 and IL15Ra generated antigen-specific cells having an effector phenotype in addition to central memory antigen-specific cells. CD8+ effector cells are expected to be active against virus-infected cells, therefore these macaques will be able to better control virus upon release from ART. Surprisingly, approximately 1-2% of circulating lymphocytes are SIV specific as a result of the dramatic response to DNA vaccination. This indicates that DNA vaccination alone under optimized conditions can generate a strong, diverse, long-lasting and multifunctional repertoire of antigen specific cells. DNA vaccination was administered successfully many times (up to a total of 8 times) without adverse effects. Moreover, repeated administrations resulted in the production of multifunctional T cells. This represents a dramatic improvement in comparison to previous vaccination protocols.

DNA injection of IL15/IL15Ra combination appears responsible for a great mobilization of effector cells, which are detected in PBMC on their way to peripheral sites. If this is the case, these results suggest the effectiveness of optimized IL15/IL15Ra combination as DNA or protein to enhance the mobilization and function of lymphocytes at optimal intervals in vivo. This immunotherapy with IL-15 can be used to enhance the effects of therapeutic vaccination and can also be used to enhance the immune response against the virus in the absence of therapeutic vaccination or for a long time after vaccination.

The DNA vaccine vectors used in this therapeutic vaccination were a mix composed of six SIV antigen-expressing plasmids and 2 rhesus IL-15/IL-15 Receptor alpha expressing plasmids. LAMP-pol and LAMP-NTV plasmids produce protein fusions of pol or NefTatVif, respectively, to human Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein.

2S-CATEgagDX

21S-MCP3p39gag

99S-Env

73S-MCP3-env

103S-LAMP-pol

147S-LAMP-NTV

Rhesus IL-15/IL-15 Receptor Alpha Producing Plasmids:

AG65-rhIL15tPA6

AG120-rhIL15Ra 

What is claimed is:
 1. A polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an interleukin-15 (IL-15) polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has at least 85% sequence identity to nucleotides 145-489 SEQ ID NO:3.
 2. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has non-native nucleic acid bases at 80% or more of the 80 nucleotide positions 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 of SEQ ID NO:3.
 3. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has non-native nucleic acid bases at 90% or more of the 80 nucleotide positions 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 and 486 of SEQ ID NO:3.
 4. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has non-native nucleic acid bases at 95% or more of the 80 nucleotide positions 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 and 486 of SEQ ID NO:3.
 5. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a guanine (g) or a cytosine (c) nucleotide at nucleotide positions 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 169, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 217, 219, 222, 228, 231, 237, 246, 252, 255, 258, 261, 277, 283, 285, 291, 294, 297, 300, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 351, 354, 363, 364, 369, 372, 375, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 402, 405, 414, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 442, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 468, 483 and 486 of SEQ ID NO:3.
 6. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises at least 50% GC content.
 7. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has at least 95% sequence identity to nucleotides 145-489 of SEQ ID NO:3.
 8. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes the region of SEQ ID NO:2 that corresponds to mature IL-15.
 9. The polynucleotide of claim 8, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO:3.
 10. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a signal peptide-propeptide (SIG-PRO) or a signal peptide (SIG) from a heterologous protein fused to the nucleic acid sequence encoding the IL-15 protein.
 11. The polynucleotide of claim 10, wherein the heterologous protein is selected from the group consisting of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), growth hormone, and an immunoglobulin.
 12. The polynucleotide of claim 11, wherein the heterologous protein is GM-CSF.
 13. The polynucleotide of claim 11, wherein the SIG-PRO from the heterologous protein is a tPA SIG PRO having 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:25 or SEQ ID NO:27.
 14. The polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein IL-15 production by 293 cells transfected with the polynucleotide is in an amount at least 5-fold greater than the amount produced by 293 cells transfected with a polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, as determined by ELISA immunoassay.
 15. An expression vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 16. An isolated host cell comprising the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 17. An isolated host cell comprising the expression vector of claim
 15. 18. The isolated host cell of claim 17, wherein the host cell is a mammalian host cell.
 19. The isolated host cell of claim 18, wherein the mammalian host cell is human.
 20. The isolated host cell of claim 18, wherein the mammalian host cell is a HEK 293-T, COS, CHO, HeLa, NIH3T3, RD or PC12 cell.
 21. The isolated host cell of claim 19, wherein the mammalian host cell is a HEK293 cell. 